A nurse is caring for a client diagnosis with uncompensated metabolic alkalosis secondary to prolonged vomiting. When reviewing this client's laboratory data, which value should the nurse anticipate?

Rationale: A. Decreased PaCO₂ occurs in respiratory alkalosis, not metabolic alkalosis. B. Increased PaCO₂ may occur as compensation, but in uncompensated metabolic alkalosis, this has not yet occurred. C. In metabolic alkalosis, especially from vomiting (loss of gastric acid), there is a primary increase in bicarbonate (HCO₃⁻). D. Decreased pH is associated with acidosis, not alkalosis.